Limiting Factors Text for Imnaha River Steelhead



Snake River Steelhead MPG

Lower Grande Ronde River Steelhead Population

Limiting Factors and Threats

The area containing the Oregon portion of the Lower Grande Ronde River population of steelhead includes the Grande Ronde River and its tributaries from the Wallowa River downstream to the Oregon/Washington state line. This discussion will include tributary streams that flow into the Grande Ronde River in Washington that originate and flow mostly in Oregon (with the exception of Joseph Cr. which is discussed as a separate population). Primary factors limiting summer steelhead in the Lower Grande Ronde River include habitat diversity (primary pools, glides, spawning gravels), Key habitat quantity (wood, hydrological modifications to the stream channel), and sediment. (NPCC 2004, Huntington, C.W. 1994, Grande Ronde Model Watershed 1995, Wallowa County – Nez Perce Tribe 1999, ODEQ 2006, BLM and USFS 2001, BLM 1998). The following reaches are on the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 303(d) list for temperature: Courtney Creek (RM 0-14.3), Grouse Creek (RM 0-RM1.4), Mud Creek (RM 0-23), Sickfoot Creek (RM 0-RM 7.5), Wallupa Creek (Wildcat Creek tributary, RM 0-RM 10.1), and the Wildcat Creek (RM 0-16) (ODEQ 2004). Courtney Creek is also listed as water quality limited, not needing a TMDL for flow modification. There are no stream reaches on the list for sedimentation, DO, or nutrient loading.

Other factors limiting summer steelhead production in the Lower Grande Ronde River Subbasin involve the availability of quality habitat (lack of large wood, low pool frequency and quality, low levels of large wood, poor streambank condition, poor riparian vegetative condition, lack of quality spawning gravel, and poor water quality), and low flow conditions (NPCC. 2004, Huntington, C.W. 1994, Grande Ronde Model Watershed 1995, Wallowa County – Nez Perce Tribe 1999, BLM and USFS 2001, BLM 1993, BLM 1998).

Habitat conditions in the Lower Grande Ronde Subbasin have been altered through various human activities. The limiting factors listed above can be primarily attributed to the degradation of stream channels and riparian areas resulting from homesteading, farming, ranching, livestock grazing, timber harvest, and road construction. Five subwatersheds within the subbasin are known to have road densities exceeding 2.5 miles per square mile (BLM and USFS 2001). No data is available for road densities in the subwatersheds containing Deer, Buford, Ward Canyon, and Sickfoot Creeks. The larger tributary streams including Mud, Grossman, Wildcat, and Courtney Creeks, originate in the plateau country that lies between the Wallowa Valley and the Lower Grande Ronde River. These streams flow into very deep, steep-sided canyons for most of their length. The headwater areas of these streams are generally heavily roaded, with historic uses including logging, livestock grazing, farming, and ranching. A road parallels the mainstem Grande Ronde River from the confluence with Wildcat Creek to the state line. Roads follow the lower reaches of some of the tributaries such as Ward Canyon, Wildcat, Wallupa, Mud, Courtney, Deer, and Buford Creeks. Livestock grazing and road building in the upper reaches of the larger tributaries on both private and public land has historically resulted in the loss of riparian vegetation, streambank damage, and sedimentation. In reaches accessible to livestock and/or accessed by roads, large shade producing riparian species such as cottonwood and ponderosa pine have been lost due to grazing, cultivation, homesteading/clearing, and road construction. A high flow event in 1996 caused mass movement of large quantities of debris through all tributary streams, resulting in the loss of riparian vegetation and habitat, and large cobble and gravel deposits at the mouth of most streams. Due to historic farming, ranching, and over-grazing, noxious weeds have taken a foothold in the lower Grande Ronde River corridor. The Vale BLM has an active weed treatment program, working cooperatively with other federal agencies, the State of Oregon, county governments, and private entities. Conditions in the riparian zones located on public lands have shown improvements due to protection and restoration following the 1992 ESA listing of Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon (BLM and USFS 2001).

In the following discussion, we have grouped areas of the Lower Grande Ronde River Subbasin with similar habitat conditions and current land use, as well as similar use by summer steelhead, for discussion of how limiting factors affect summer steelhead. Much of this discussion is adapted from discussion of limiting factors contained in the Grande Ronde River Subbasin Plan (NPPC 2004) and other references as cited.

Lower Grande Ronde River Mainstem (LGS1)

This area includes the mainstem of the Grande Ronde River from the confluence with the Wallowa River (RM 82) downstream to the Oregon/Washington state line (RM 39.2). The upper 20 miles of this section of river is located on National Forest Lands, with the Umatilla National Forest on the west and north of the river, and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest on the other side. This portion if the Grande Ronde River is designated as a Wild River under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The remainder of the Lower Grande Ronde Mainstem is a combination of Oregon State, BLM, and private lands, and is designated as a Recreational River. The Lower Grande Ronde River mainstem is a confined canyon with a road following the river for about 14 miles, from the confluence with Wildcat Creek (RM 53.3) to the state line. This section of the river is not on the ODEQ 303(d) list for any parameter (ODEQ 2004). Land uses in this area include ranching, livestock grazing, farming, roads, and recreation. Historically, small family farms and ranches were established at nearly every suitable location, many of which still exist. The small town of Troy, OR (population 50), is located adjacent to the mouth of the Wenaha River in this section. This portion of the Grande Ronde River is extensively used by river rafters in the spring and early summer before flows get too low. The BLM’s active managemet of recreational use on the Grande Ronde River has significantly reduced impacts caused floating and camping along the river. This area is also popular for its hunting and fishing opportunities.

The primary factors limiting summer steelhead production in the lower mainstem river are a lack of habitat diversity (primary pools, glides, and spawning gravels), Key habitat quantity (wood), sediment, and to a lesser extent, high summer temperatures. These limiting factors affect juvenile rearing and migration. The EDT model used in the Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan noted a decrease in habitat diversity and key habitat quantity, likely due to a decrease in wood which the model identified as reducing quality rearing habitat. However, large wood is not a major habitat component in this section of river and likely never was due to natural conditions such as high flows, ice, and lack of large trees in the riparian zone (NPCC 2004). A large, channel forming, flood event in early February, 1996, produced an estimated flow of 51,800 cfs, the highest ever recorded at the Troy gauging station. Sediment present in the mainstem Lower Grande Ronde River is primarily supplied from upstream tributaries and the upper mainstem. Similarly, water quality problems in the lower Grande Ronde River are primarily a result of upstream land management activities. This reach likely has always experienced high summer water temperatures because of the river’s large size and relatively low elevation (1,600 ft. at the state line and 2,300 ft. at mouth of the Wallowa River).

Because the lack of habitat quality and diversity revealed through the EDT model is based on the lack of large wood, which was not historically present, it does not likely have much effect on abundance, productivity, spatial structure, or diversity of summer steelhead in the lower Grande Ronde River mainstem.

The following restoration projects have been accomplished to date in the lower Grande Ronde River mainstem (GRMW 2006) that directly or indirectly benefit Snake River:

• 0.25 miles of riparian livestock exclusion fencing protecting 0.5 stream miles and 6 acres of riparian habitat

• 5.72 stream miles of riparian planting benefiting 146 acres of riparian habitat

• 4.05 stream miles of riparian seeding benefiting 139 acres of riparian habitat

• 0.5 miles of upland riparian livestock exclusion fencing protecting 1 mile of small tributary stream and 40 acres of small tributary riparian habitat

• 3.5 stream miles of upland riparian seeding benefiting 244 acres of upland riparian habitat

• 10 miles of roads obliterated and 3 miles of roads improved

The mainstem Grande Ronde River below the Wallowa River confluence is used by summer steelhead primarily for migration and rearing (NPCC 2004), although some unknown amount of spawning is thought to take place in the Lower Grande Ronde River mainstem (BLM and USFS 2001, BLM 1998). Little data are available on spawner abundance or juvenile densities in this portion of the river. Large deep pools and other cold water refugia in the lower mainstem most likely provide some rearing habitat for juvenile fish during the summer.

Lower Grande Ronde River Tributaries (LGS2)

This grouping of streams includes the smaller Lower Grande Ronde River tributaries below the Wenaha River confluence that are primarily located in Oregon. They include Deer, Buford, Bear (1st GR Bear Cr), and Squaw Canyon Creeks. These streams are nearly all privately owned. The BLM owns a patchwork of small parcels of land along the Grande Ronde River, including the lowermost ¼ to ½ mile of Deer, Bear, and Squaw Canyon Creeks. All four of these streams are small, lower elevation, high gradient perennial tributaries. They are surrounded by dry grassland, and riparian areas are dominated by shrub vegetation. The primary land uses affecting steelhead habitat in the area are livestock grazing, farming, ranching, and road construction/use. The lower few miles of Buford Creek are paralleled by Washington State Highway 129, which has a negative effect on riparian habitat by limiting riparian vegetation and confining the channel.

The primary limiting factors identified for these streams are excess fine sediment and key habitat quantity (lack of large wood), which have resulted from management activities and natural high flow events. The life stages affected by these factors are incubation and rearing. None of these tributary streams are mentioned on Oregon’s integrated report on water quality status for any parameter (ODEQ 2004). All three streams were heavily impacted by the high flow event in 1997, which resulted in the loss of riparian vegetation and large depositions of cobble along the stream channels and at their confluence with the Grande Ronde River. Historic uses along these streams include livestock grazing, road building, farming, and logging.

Restoration projects accomplished to date in the lower Grande Ronde River tributaries (GRMW 2006) that directly or indirectly benefit Snake River steelhead include the following:

• 6.13 miles of riparian planting benefiting 206.2 acres of riparian habitat

• 0.49 stream miles of riparian seeding benefiting 9 acres of riparian habitat

• 0.25 miles of road relocated and 7.36 miles of road improved

• 17 instream rock structures to improve fish passage in 0.04 miles of stream

• 1 spring water development for off-channel livestock watering

• 8 stream crossing structures improved making 6.5 miles of habitat accessible

• 0.51 miles of upland cross-fence benefiting 1 stream mile of habitat

The lower Grande Ronde River tributaries combine to provide approximately 20 miles of habitat used by all life stages of summer steelhead. There are little data available on abundance of steelhead or habitat quality in these small streams due to their remoteness and private land location.

Wenaha River Mainstem (LGS3)

The mainstem of the Wenaha River extends from the river’s mouth at the town of Troy to the forks of the Wenaha (RM 22.1). The lower 2.8 miles is a combination of State of Oregon, BLM, and private land. The river flows through the Umatilla National Forest for the remaining portion of this reach. From RM 2.8 to the Wenaha – Tucannon Wilderness boundary (RM 6.2) the Wenaha River is designated as a Scenic River under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Above the wilderness boundary the Wenaha River is designated as a Wild River. A bridge crosses the river at the town of Troy, but there are no roads following the river. A recreation trail located on the hillside north of the river parallels it for the length of this reach. The general valley form of this portion of the river is V-shaped with steep side slopes and a narrow valley floor, generally less than a quarter mile wide.

Factors limiting the production of SR summer steelhead in this reach of the Wenaha River are habitat diversity (lack of large wood) and key habitat quantity (lack of pools). These affect the incubation and rearing life stages of summer steelhead, and are naturally occurring conditions due to the nature of this mostly undisturbed river system. The Wenaha is a large river in which large wood tends to be moved downstream or into the stream margins with high flows. It is a riffle-dominated system naturally lacking large numbers of pools (Huntington, 1994).

Restoration projects accomplished to date in the lower Wenaha River mainstem (GRMW 2006) that directly or indirectly benefit Snake River steelhead include the following:

• 11.9 miles of trails improved

• 40 acres of riparian area treated for noxious weeds benefiting 7 stream miles

• 0.5 stream miles of riparian planting and seeding

• 2 miles of road obliterated

The Wenaha River mainstem is used by summer steelhead primarily for spawning and rearing (StreamNet 2006). There are no good current estimates of return spawners in this system.

Wenaha River Forks and Tributaries (LGS4)

This grouping of tributaries to the Wenaha River includes the North and South Forks, and the tributaries that contain summer steelhead habitat. These are Crooked Creek and tributaries, Cross Canyon Creek, Fairview Creek, Weller Creek, Butte Creek and tributaries, Rock Creek, Beaver Creek, Milk Creek and tributaries, and the North and South Forks of the Wenaha River and their tributaries. All of these streams are located in the Wenaha – Tucannon Wilderness.

Little data are available on the factors limiting the production of summer steelhead within these remote streams. Dispersed recreation is the only ongoing land use activity within this area, which has very little effect on the summer steelhead population or habitat.

Restoration projects accomplished to date in the Wenaha River forks and tributaries (GRMW 2006) that directly or indirectly benefit Snake River steelhead include the following:

• 11.37 miles of trail improvement

• 1.5 stream miles of riparian planting and seeding

• 10 miles of roads obliterated and 3 miles of roads improved

Crooked Creek and four of its tributaries, First, Melton, Second, and Third Creeks, combine for approximately 16 miles of summer steelhead spawning and rearing habitat, and approximately two miles of rearing and migration habitat (StreamNet 2006). Butte Creek contains approximately six miles of spawning and rearing habitat. Rock Creek and Beaver Creek each contain approximately four miles of spawning and rearing habitat, Slick Ear and Weller Creeks each contain 1 to 2 miles of habitat, and Cross Canyon and Fairview Creeks each contain about 0.5 miles of habitat. The North and South Forks (including tributaries) each contain approximately 8 miles of spawning and rearing habitat. Milk Creek and its tributaries contain about 7 miles of spawning and rearing habitat. There are no estimates of abundance for these streams.

Courtney, Mud, Grossman, and Wildcat Creeks (LGS5)

Courtney, Mud, Grossman, and Wildcat Creeks are the larger tributaries to the Lower Grande Ronde (excluding the Wenaha River and Joseph Creek) and contain the bulk of steelhead spawning habitat within the Lower Grande Ronde River steelhead population in Oregon. Courtney Creek flows into the Grande Ronde River at RM 47.2. The Mud Creek confluence is at RM 52.7, Wildcat Creek flows in at RM 54.2, and Grossman Creek at RM 63.7. The headwaters of these four streams form in the plateau country west of Oregon State Highway 3 and north of the town of Wallowa. They then flow into deep and very steep canyons to their confluence with the Grande Ronde River. Except for the ¼ mile of BLM ownership at the mouth of Mud Creek, these streams are located on private land for their lower few miles, with National Forest ownership above. Courtney Creek only flows across National Forest lands for a couple of miles. The upper most reaches of Courtney Creek, Wallupa Creek (major Wildcat Creek tributary), and some of the Mud Creek tributaries are located on land currently owned by Forest Capital (previous Boise Cascade Corporation land). Farming, ranching, livestock grazing, logging, and road construction/use have historically occurred in the flatter headwater reaches of all four of these streams and their tributaries. Road densities in the headwater reaches are high, with five subwatersheds exceeding 2.5 miles/mi² in the upper Mud Creek system and Wallupa Creek (BLM and FS, 2001). In the canyon and lowermost stream reaches, livestock grazing has been the primary land use. The following streams are on the ODEQ 303(d) list for temperature: Courtney Creek (RM 0-14.3), Mud Creek (RM 0-23), Wildcat Creek (RM 0-16), and Wallupa Creek (Wildcat tributary, RM 0-10.1) (ODEQ 2004). Courtney Creek is also listed as water quality limited, not needing a TMDL for flow modification.

The primary factors limiting steelhead production in these streams are key habitat quantity (resulting from reduced channel wetted widths, lack of wood, hydrological modification, and road construction/use), high summer temperatures, sediment, and high flows. These factors influence steelhead spawning, incubation, rearing, and migration life stages. Farming, road building/use, logging, livestock grazing, and ranching in the upper reaches of these streams has caused stream channelization, loss of riparian vegetation, and streambank damage. In the canyon reaches, natural high flow events in these flashy systems, especially the 1996 event, have caused a loss of riparian vegetation and the deposition of large amounts of cobble and gravel in the streams. Historic heavy grazing in the lowermost reaches has also caused the loss of riparian vegetation and streambank damage. These factors have combined to result in a loss of quality habitat and potential wood recruitment, and higher stream temperatures. In the upper reaches of Mud Creek and its tributaries all terrain vehicle (ATV) use both on- and off-road is a minor contributor of fine sediment. The steelhead life stages most affected are juvenile rearing and egg incubation.

Restoration projects accomplished to date in the Courtney, Mud, Grossman, and Wildcat creeks subwatersheds (GRMW 2006) that directly or indirectly benefit Snake River steelhead include the following:

• 32.5 stream miles of instream large wood placement

• 30 spring water developments for off-channel livestock watering

• 52 pond water developments for off-channel livestock watering

• 100 acres of upland wet meadow restoration

• 3.5 miles of riparian cross-fencing benefiting 5 stream miles and 5000 acres of riparian habitat

• 4.37 miles of riparian livestock exclusion fencing protecting 1.75 miles of stream and 24 acres of riparian habitat

• 4 stream miles of riparian planting benefiting 32 acres of riparian habitat

• 0.75 miles of riparian seeding benefiting 10 acres of riparian habitat

• 1.75 miles of upland riparian cross-fence benefiting 1.75 miles of upland tributary stream and 100 acres of upland riparian habitat

• 0.5 miles of road obliterated, 54.4 miles of road closed, and 10.1 miles of road improved

• 3 instream rock structures installed benefiting 1.5 stream miles

• 0.3 miles of spring exclosure fence protecting 3 acres of riparian habitat

• 3 stream crossing structures (two culverts and one bridge) improved

• 20.2 miles of upland cross-fencing benefiting 34 stream miles

• 3.5 miles of upland meadow cross-fencing benefiting 1.5 stream miles and 100 acres of upland riparian habitat

• 50 acres if upland wet meadow planting benefiting 1.5 stream miles

Courtney, Mud, Grossman, and Wildcat Creeks are used by all life stages of summer steelhead. There is very limited information on the adult escapement or juvenile steelhead densities in these streams due to their remote location and limited access.

Upper Tributaries of the Lower Grande Ronde River (LGS6)

The upper tributaries of the Lower Grande Ronde River flow into the river above the confluence of Wildcat Creek. These tributaries include Ward Canyon, Sickfoot, Elbow, Bear (3rd GR Bear Cr), Alder, Meadow, Clear, and Sheep Creeks. Nearly all steelhead habitat in these streams is under federal ownership. The steelhead habitat in Ward Canyon is in the lowermost ¼ mile, which is BLM managed land. BLM also manages all but approximately 1 mile of the habitat in Sickfoot Creek. The upper reaches of both of these streams are privately owned. Elbow, Bear, Alder, Meadow, and Sheep Creek steelhead habitat is all located on National Forest Lands. The upper reaches of Sheep and Meadow Creeks contain a mix of National Forest and private land. A 10-foot falls 0.9 miles above the mouth of Sheep Creek is the upper limit of steelhead distribution, however, resident O. mykiss are present upstream of the falls. The lowermost 1.25 miles of Clear Creek, containing its steelhead habitat, is on National Forest Lands, while the remainder of the stream is on private land. The streams in this group originate on the flat plateaus on either side of the Grande Ronde River, but primarily are high gradient streams flowing through steep forested canyons. They generally do not have roads parallel them, but most are crossed by roads above their canyon sections. Ward Canyon is followed from its mouth by an old impassible road. Historical land management activities are limited in the lower reaches of these streams because of their inaccessible nature. Land management activities in the headwater reaches and tributaries of most of these streams include road construction/use, logging, ranching, and livestock grazing. The 9,200 acre Ward Canyon Fire of 1988 burned down the Ward Canyon drainage destroying much of the riparian vegetation. It since has reestablished a dense cover of riparian shrubs. Sickfoot Creek is listed on the ODEQ 303(d) list for temperature (RM 0-7.5) (ODEQ 2004).

The primary factors limiting steelhead production in these streams are key habitat quantity (likely due to sediment and a reduction in wood), and sediment. Steelhead life stages affected are spawning, incubation, rearing, and migration. In the lower reaches of these streams the natural high flow events have resulted in the loss of some riparian vegetation (including large trees) and habitat quality. In the upper reaches of these streams, above steelhead habitat, logging, road building/use, and livestock grazing have resulted in sediment input, the loss of riparian vegetation, and streambank damage. The steelhead life stages most affected is juvenile rearing and egg incubation.

Restoration projects accomplished to date in the upper tributaries of the lower Grande Ronde River (GRMW 2006) that directly or indirectly benefit Snake River steelhead include the following:

• 30.3 miles of road obliterated and 14 miles of road improved

The streams in this grouping contain habitat for all lifestages of steelhead. As with other Lower Grande River tributaries, there is limited information on spawner numbers or juvenile densities because the habitat is very remote and difficult to access.

References

BLM 1993. Wallowa and Grande Ronde River Final Management Plan/Environmental Assessment. pp. 23-25, 73-74, 113-117.

BLM 1998. Lower Grande Ronde Subbasin Review. Bureau of Land Management, Baker Area Office and USFS Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla NFs. June 19, 1998. pp. AQUA-HF/1-64, AQUA-WQ/1-71, AQUA-FISH/1-37, AQUA-RV/1-11.

BLM and USFS 2001. Lower Grande Ronde Subbasin Multi-Species Biological Assessment. Bureau of Land Management, Vale District and US Forest Service, Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla National Forests. April 23, 2001. pp. 15-36 and 50-67.

BLM 2006. 2005 Section 7 consultation monitoring report for Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout. Bureau of Land Management, Vale District, Baker Field Office. pp. 17-20 of LGR Subbasin chapter.

Grande Ronde Model Watershed 1995. Operations – action plan. pp. 11 and 42-43.

Grande Ronde Model Watershed 2006. Watershed Restoration Project Database. Grande Ronde Model Watershed Board, La Grande, OR.

Huntington, C.W. 1994. Stream and riparian conditions in the Grande Ronde basin 1993. Final report. Prepared for the Grande Ronde Model Watershed Board, La Grande, OR. pp. 52-53, B18, B21, B27, B36, B49, and B60.

NPCC. 2004. Grande Ronde River Subbasin Plan. Prepared for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council by Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program. pp 72-73, 194, 196-197, 251-252, 258-264, and Supplement pages 14-16.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) 2006. Oregon’s 303(d) list of water quality limited water bodies. In: Oregon’s 2004/2006 integrated report on water quality status. Submitted to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, May 23, 2006. Available at:



StreamNet. 2006. StreamNet Pacific Northwest Interactive Mapper. Available online at: . Site accessed 8 September 2006.

Wallowa County – Nez Perce Tribe 1999. Wallowa County salmon recovery plan with multi-species habitat strategy. pp. 71-75.

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